Bhoovarahaswami Sreemushnam

Vaishnavite Temples, Cuddalore District

God

Bhoovarahaswami, facing west

Goddess

Ambujavalli Thaayar, facing east

Other Deities

Andal, Ramanujar, Nammazhwar, Thirumangai Azhwar, Sabdamadar, Senaimudaliar, Vedantadesikar, Manavalamamunigal, Venugopala, Vishwaksenar, Kuzhandhai Amman

Bhoovarahaswami Sreemushnam is a west facing temple with a 7 tier Rajagopuram and a temple tank in the east near the Siva temple. Outside the Rajagopuram is a unique 80 feet tall monolith Dwajasthambam. Once you enter you see the 100 Pillar Mandapam, Purusha Suktha Mandapam, Artha Mandapam and a large outer Prakaram. The feet of the Lord Venkateswara of Tirupati are imprinted here and one prays to that before seeing the Bhoovarahaswami. This is one of the eight important Swayamvaktha Kshetras (the main deity is self-occurring) others in this line are Sreerangam, Tirupati, Vaanamamalai, Salagramam, Pushkaram, Naimisaranyam, Badrikasramam. The main deity here is about 2.5 feet and is seen with hands in his hip facing west and face pointing to the south in a posture of victorious glee, having killed the demon Hiranyakshan and saving Mother Earth. The shrine of the lord has an inner Prakaram for circumambulation. There is a 5 tiered gopuram on the northern side which is the Vaikunta Vaasal.

Holy water (Theertham) – Nithya Pushkarini

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Arasamaram (Peepul tree – Ficus relegiosa)

Vimaanam – Bhavana Vimaanam

History

Bhoovarahaswami Sreemushnam has several stone inscriptions, the earliest of which is found in the Shiva temple nearby and dates back to the Chola period (1068 CE) which mentions the donation of an entire village by Veera Rajendra Chola to Bhoovarahaswami Sreemushnam temple. In another inscription is the mention of the donation of another village by Kulothunga Chola I (1100 CE).

The inscriptions inside the temple all belong to the Vijayanagar Period (15 Century CE). In 1471 King Virupakshan donated a village to Bhoovarahaswami Sreemushnam wherein the temple is referred to as ‘Aadhivaraha Nayinar Kovil’.

Mentions of two kings Sreerengan I (1572 – 1585 CE) and Venkata II (1586-1614 CE) are in Telugu. One of the Thanjavur Nayak Kings Achyuthappa Naicker (1560 – 1614 CE) has performed services and contributed to this temple.

Legend

When the Lord in his Varaha Avatar went under the sea to rescue mother earth he is said to have come out and rested here for a short while and the water drop that fell off his body is believed to have created the Pushkarini (Theertham, Holy Water) here at Bhoovarahaswami Sreemushnam.

The Goddess here at Bhoovarahaswami Sreemushnam is said to have been borne as the daughter of Kathyayana Maharishi in Valayamadevi near Neyveli. After she wed the lord she is believed to have to have requested him to appear in a heavenly form which will stun the world. The lord is said to have appeared from the Yaga Fire of Brahma in the wondrous from of Yagnja Varahar. He exists here today as Boovarahar.

A King called Benukonda who was afflicted with spinal cord disease is said to have prayed to Lord Varahar and built this temple as a gratitude for the cure. There are several other stories of people getting cured, childless people rewarded and more associated with this temple.

In the ancient days an Islamic ruler is believed to have donated liberally to Bhoovarahaswami Sreemushnam. Even today when the processional deity is taken to the sea for ablution one of his garlands is placed on the grave of this king after a brief ritual there.

Directions

Bhoovarahaswami Sreemushnam is 19 kms south east of Viruthachalam. Behind this temple is the Nithileswara Temple.

Stay and Food

Tea shops suitable for a light snack are around the temple.

Vaishnavite Temples

Bhoovarahaswami, Sreemushnam